Thomas B. Hick, M.D. (1905)

THOMAS B. HICK, M.D., one of the best known physicians of Gallatin County, Ill., was born at New Haven, in that County, Dec. 6, 1841, and is now the oldest native resident of that place. He is the third in a family of five children born to Thomas and Fatima C. (Barger) Hick, the former a native of Yorkshire, England, and the latter of Gallatin County, where her father, Jacob Barger, was one of the early settlers. The other children were John, born in 1838 and died in 1875, a merchant during his lifetime; Mary J., who married George L. Hanna, and died in 1901; Elizabeth J., wife of Mathew Land, born Jan. 13, 1844, and one who died in infancy. Doctor Hick's father came from England in his boyhood with his parents, settling near Golconda in the year 1816. He was bound out to a tobacconist until he was twenty-one years of age, but not liking the arrangement ran away before he completed his term of service. In 1835 he located at New Haven, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. He took a prominent part, in political affairs and in 1845 and again in 1858 was elected to the legislature on the Democratic ticket. He continued in business until 1866, and upon his death his sons succeeded to the store. The mother of Doctor Hick died in 1855. Doctor Hick received his early education in the common schools, after which he took a course in the Eastman Business college, at Poughkeepsie, N.Y. On Dec. 1, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company G, Seventh Illinois cavalry, joining the regiment at Bird's Point, Mo. He was at the siege of Vicksburg; participated in the battle of Arkansas Post, the military operations about Corinth, and was in a number of minor skirmishes. In 1862 he was promoted to sergeant, and in August of that year was detailed for special duty by order of General Grant. When the postoffice of the Thirteenth army corps was created he was appointed a clerk in that department and remained in that capacity until August, 1864. He was then transfered to the military postoffice at Cairo and served there until he was mustered out on December 19, at Nashville, Tenn. Before the war he had been associated with his father in the store and had spent some time in reading medicine. After being discharged from the army he again took up the study, though he continued in the store with his brother until 1869. During the years 1870-71 he attended the Jefferson Medical college, of Philadelphia, and in 1872 graduated from the Cleveland Medical college. He located at New Haven, where he has been in continuous practice ever since. Although a third of a century- has elapsed since Doctor Hick first received his degree of M.D. he has not allowed himself to fall behind in the progress of medical science. In the treatment of diseases he is looked upon as one of the successful physicians of his section of the state, and consequently has a large and lucrative practice. In addition to his professional interests he owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and has accumulated considerable town property. Like his father before him, he is an unswerving Democrat, though the only political position he could ever be prevailed on to accept was the postoffice at New Haven, where he served as postmaster for several years. Doctor Hick is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen; Rhodes Post, No. 586, Grand Army of the Republic, of New Haven, and belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian church.

1905. Memoirs of the Lower Ohio Valley . Madison, Wis.: Federal Publishing Company. 2:383-384.

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